DEC 2

Events

1927 – Following 19 years of Ford Model T production, the Ford Motor Company unveils the Ford Model A (also colloquially called the A-Model Ford or the A, and A-bone among rodders and customizers) as its new automobile -manufactured in Trafford Park, England. Ala Kart, a customized 1929 roadster pickup built by George Barris won two straight “America’s Most Beautiful Roadster” awards at the Oakland Roadster Show before making numerous film and television appearances.

1993 – Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar is shot and killed in Medellín – good riddance to bad rubbish.

Births

1899 – John Cobb, British racing driver – Driving the piston engined, wheel driven Railton Special he broke the Land Speed Record at Bonneville on August 23, 1939 at a speed of 367.91 mph (592.09 km/h). Without this being beaten he raised the record to 394.19 mph (634.39 km/h) in 1947. The record was unbeaten until 1963 when it was narrowly surpassed by Craig Breedlove in the jet powered Spirit of America. During World War II he served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force and between 1943 and 1945 in the Air Transport Auxiliary. He reached the rank of Group Captain.

1960 – Rick Savage, British bassist (Def Leppard)

1981 – Britney Spears, American singer and entertainer

Deaths

1982 – Marty Feldman, British comedian, writer and actor – he was Igor (pronounced “EYE-gore”) in Young Frankenstein where many lines were improvised. Gene Wilder says he had Feldman in mind when he wrote the part. At one point, Dr Frankenstein (Wilder) scolds Igor with the phrase “Damn your eyes!” Feldman turns to the camera, points to his misaligned eyes, grins and says, “Too late!”